With over a million stalking cases reported each year, Closer asks what more can be done to protect us from this terrifying form of abuse
Christine Lampard recently revealed the terror she’d suffered at the hands of her stalker, which lead us to report how to get a restraining order if you're being harassed. The 39-year-old TV presenter was stalked by fan Christoff King for three years.
She told a court how she first received threatening messages on Twitter from him in 2015. Despite blocking and reporting his account, two months later, he turned up at her home, where Christine was forced to hide in her bedroom as he knocked on the door.
Christine is not alone. Recent figures show that stalking is on the rise, with 1.1 million people - the majority being women - falling victim ever year and a shocking two women every week being killed by their stalker.
One in five women will experience stalking in their adult lives, yet only one percent of cases recorded by the police result in prosecution.
Stalking victims say the biggest issue is that the crime isn’t taken seriously enough – and that it can have dire consequences.
Victoria Charleston, policy and development officer at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust – a charity that runs the National Stalking Helpline – says: “The huge psychological trauma for victims is underestimated. It’s like having someone constantly living in your head and can affect everything from work to family life.
"It can happen to anyone – stalkers are often ex-partners, but can also be a stranger you pass in the street. Victims frequently report not being taken seriously and often stalking isn’t properly understood by professionals, meaning that victims sometimes end up paying with their lives.”
Beckie Cameron, 21, understands only too easily how you can fall victim to stalking. The care worker was terrorised for three months by a former classmate, Daniel Berry, who she hadn’t seen for over a decade. He left violent messages and threatened her with a knife and is now behind bars, but the care worker says she already feels anxious about his release.
She says: “Daniel was sentenced to a year in jail in April, but I’ve been warned that he could be out by October. It scares me."
Becky adds: "I don't think there's enough protection or tough enough sentences to protect women like me. We need stricter measures in place and longer sentences. I don't want anyone to go through the trauma that I have."
Shocking celeb lip jobs before and after
CLOSER Shocking celeb lip jobs before and after
1 of 46Bobby Norris
It's no secret that TOWIE's Bob enjoys a cosmetic procedure every now and again. He even recently flew off to Turkey for a new nose.
2 of 46Bobby Norris
But it looked like he might have gone a lip filler session too far during TOWIE filming in 2015.
3 of 46Chloe Ferry
Geordie Shore's Chloe Ferry is a HUGE fan of cosmetic surgery.
4 of 46Chloe Ferry
We barely recognise her these days, especially with those uber lips.
5 of 46Kylie Jenner
What is a list of celebs with lip fillers if it doesn't include Kylie Jenner, right? Her sister Kim let the cat out of the bag on TV, not that we needed much convincing.
6 of 46Kylie Jenner
But Kim revealed on social media that she 'got rid' of the filler this year.
7 of 46Marnie Simpson
The former Geordie Shore star has always been a fan of lip fillers and cosmetic procedures.
8 of 46Marnie Simpson
There have even been videos of Marnie performing the lip filler procedure at home. Definitely do not try that one at home, people.
9 of 46Chloe Sims
TOWIE's Chloe Sims has had multiple cosmetic procedures, including a nose job and a 3D bum lift.
10 of 46Chloe Sims
And she's a fan of topping us those lips to keep 'em glossy and plump.
11 of 46Louise Thompson
Made In Chelsea fitness guru Louise Thompson has always been a natural beauty.
12 of 46Louise Thompson
But her lips have been looking particularly big 'n' bouncy recently. Hmmm...
13 of 46Katie Champ
Ex on the Beach's Katie Champ has always had a big, sparkling smile.
14 of 46Katie Champ
But she has taken it to the next level with lip fillers. Check out that pout.
15 of 46Megan McKenna
Reality TV star Megan McKenna has grown quite a pout since first appearing on our screens during Britain's Got Talent.
16 of 46Megan McKenna
She likes to share her lip filling sessions on social media, for people who enjoy watching that kinda painful thing...
17 of 46Ricci Guarnaccio
Geordie Shore's Riccihas undergone QUITE the transformation.
18 of 46Ricci Guarnaccio
He's a big fan of pouting and posting selfies, so we're always up to date on his latest procedures.
19 of 46Nathan Henry
Geordie Shore's Nathan Henry has always liked to look after the aesthetic side of things.
20 of 46Nathan Henry
Which includes getting fillers injected to those big old lips.
21 of 46Chrysten Zenoni
Geordie Shore's Chrysten Zenoni has always boasted a plump pair of lips.
22 of 46Chrysten Zenoni
They're looking pretty extreme right now.
23 of 46Ellie Goulding
Singer Ellie Goulding hasn't admitted to having lip fillers.
24 of 46Ellie Goulding
Yet we can't help but notice how fuller they now look. What do you think?
25 of 46Charlotte Crosby
CBB winner Charlotte has reportedly spent over £200,000 on cosmetic surgery, to the point of being almost unrecognisable.
26 of 46Charlotte Crosby
She insists she only gets her lips done once a year. We're not too sure.
27 of 46Michelle Keegan
TV star Michelle Keegan had noticeably thinner lips during her Corrie days.
28 of 46Michelle Keegan
Michelle hasn't confirmed lip fillers, but they're looking pretty plumper.
29 of 46Lauren Goodger
TOWIE star Lauren Goodger is no stranger to nips and tucks, including a £10k Brazilian butt lift.
30 of 46Lauren Goodger
Lauren said she gave up on fillers for a more natural look in 2016. But that's all changed now. Her lips are absolutely massive after regular fillers - they need their own passport.
31 of 46Ferne McCann
TOWIE's Ferne McCann has denied lip filler accusations.
32 of 46Ferne McCann
But they DO look significantly fatter than a few years ago, right?
33 of 46Stephanie Davis
Fresh faced Stephanie Davis was a stranger to surgery in her early Hollyoaks days.
34 of 46Stephanie Davis
But the star has been open about Botox fillers since becoming a mum, including injecting her lips.
35 of 46Harry Derbridge
Harry was one of the original Towie cast members and we have very fond memories of his time on the show - other than the allegedly cheating on Bobby Norris bit.
36 of 46Harry Derbridge
Harry now works as a make up artist and his lips look remarkably juicy.
37 of 46Rosie Williams
Way back in 2016, Rosie Williams was "legally brunette" and had a striking but natural looking pout.
38 of 46Rosie Williams
When she walked into the Love Island villa in 2018 our eyes were drawn to her lips. Is it just us, or do they look like they've had a little help? Hmm...
39 of 46Laura Anderson
The Love Islander was known for her natural beauty in the villa, although she did admit to having a boob job.
40 of 46Laura Anderson
On leaving the villa, Laura underwent a series of 'mild' cosmetic procedures, including her lips.
41 of 46Jeremy McConnell
Jeremy McConnell is the Irish model who embarked on a turbulent relationship with Stephanie Davies in the CBB house and went on to have a baby with her (despite denying it was his...).
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42 of 46Jeremy McConnell
He unveiled a SERIOUS lip job on social media and apparently commented: "I'm very happy. I'm the happiest I've ever been."
43 of 46Olivia Attwood
Love Island's Olivia Attwood is a lip filler veteran, forking out on treatment long before she made her way into the public eye.
44 of 46Olivia Attwood
After going to her consultant to get some dodgy under eye filler removed, she was convinced to dissolve her top lip filler after admitting she 'took it too far', and opted for a more natural look instead.
45 of 46Amanda Holden
Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden has been open and honest about having botox over the years.
46 of 46Amanda Holden
However she's denied having lip fillers and has insisted: "I'd never have my lips plumped, that's the one thing I wouldn't have done."
Signs someone is becoming obsessed:
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust defines stalking as “a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour, which is repeated, persistent, intrusive, and causes fear of violence or engenders alarm and distress in the victim”.
Stalking behaviour can include insistent behaviours such as:
-Damaging property
If at any point you feel unsafe, call the police on 999. If you are worried that you are being stalked, call The National Stalking Helpline 0808 802 0300. For more advice, visit Suzylamplugh.org
King has admitted a charge of stalking. He denied sending the Tweets but a judge ruled that he did. He will be sentenced in July.
Read more of our report on stalking - including Lizzie Cundy's personal experience - in this week's Closer magazine, out now.
WATCH...Lizzie Cundy BUM LIFT: See the results for yourself!
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